Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit
Usually you give your friends a friendly discount because it saves the hassle from advertising, packing, etc. and also your friends return the favor.

But I would never sell something expensive to a friend, period. There be dragons.

Even giving things to friends can invoke dragons.

If I want a thing gone, for whatever reason I want that to happen, then I want it gone. I never want to see it again.

When I get rid of a thing with eBay or Craigslist or FB Marketplace or whatever this decade's thing is, or with a dumpster, then it is gone from my life. It will never resurface.

But friends have a habit of bringing things back. Whether it's "Hey, remember that camera you gave me?" or "Hey, my old lady is kicking me out -- can I store some shit in your garage [like these four giant rackmount Elo touchscreens that I wouldn't let you bin two years ago]?", things given to friends have a bad habit of coming back 'round.

I'd be inclined to pay more for it getting it from my friend than on a second hand marketplace. It removes the chance I'm going to be scammed, or the product isn't as described, or the seller will leave me a bad review.

On the other hand, I wouldn't ask my friend to pay more if selling, so maybe a par price is fair.

You hit all the salient points.